How many gigs?

[3D Piper]

About how many gigs does your band play a year?
How many are paying gigs?
Or does your band only compete?


-Matthew

[el gaitero]

Originally Posted by 3D Piper

About how many gigs does your band play a year?
How many are paying gigs?
Or does your band only compete?


-Matthew

I’ll go out on a limb to say even bands who ‘only compete’ take on paying gigs for fun ( split the proceeds) and/or funding to support the band.

[Pppiper]

When I played with a local band some years back, I seem to remember they did approximately 10-12 gigs throughout the year, and they would probably do about 3 or 4 competitions.

Most people did their best to show up to as many as they could manage, and that would usually see at minimum about 7-10 pipers per outing, and 4-6 drummers of various sorts. I'd say that's about 50-60% of the total corps.

Looking at the number, it seems like that's a lot, but I never remember feeling that it was excessive. And I don't recall any members complaining about it either. The income would seem to play for the band's expenses quite well, without anyone needing to pay dues. Gas was subsidized for those traveling over a certain amount of miles, drinks were provided for tailgating after every outing, and reeds were also provided to members (within reason ... if someone came to me asking for 2-3 reeds in a month, they'd have gotten a stern look and a talking-to). Chanters were also band property, and occasionally the band might help out members with chipping in for bag replacements, and that sort of thing. Personally, I thought that last bit, while nice, was a little excessive.

Seemed to work well, and I like that the band was constantly going out, being present for the public.

Cheers,
~Nate

[acadianpiper]

My local band averages 12-16 gigs a year, of which probably half involve some sort of payment, usually a modest honorarium, although some venues reward us very generously. Because of our isolated location, accessible only by ferry or air, 2 or 3 gigs usually involve travel by ferry and it is very difficult (and expensive) for us to attend competitions.

We have an attendance policy that requires participation in at least 50% + 1 of our gigs. Allowances are made for band members' work or school schedules and illness.

[pancelticpiper]

Our band does few gigs, a handful a year, only ones that pay well enough to make it worth it.

There used to be a band around here that seemed to do two or three gigs every weekend, it was crazy. Their practice night was split with a competition band portion and a gig band portion (some of the players only did one or the other, some players did both).